FINAL SAC-AnnRev-0910-web-9511

Annual Review
July 2009 to June 2010
MESSAGE FROM
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Our work has reached a new maturity this year: 113 groups –
or 3,306 families – gained the self-sufficiency to graduate
from our programme and continue to build thriving
communities without our direct support. It is the first year in
which we have seen such a large-scale graduation, reflecting
the significant growth in our programmes several years ago,
and it represents a triumph for the Send a Cow approach with
its built-in sustainability.
As more groups completed our programmes, we were able to help further households through
the pass-on system, increasing the cost-effectiveness of our work. We have provided direct
practical assistance to more than 16,500 families despite a continued tough economic climate
and a drop in income. I am pleased to report that our forecast income for the year 2010/2011 is
already on target to recover to £4m, and that we are cautiously optimistic that we are back on a
promisingly upwards trend.
That is testimony to the groundwork laid in recent years to diversify our income streams. With
institutions more receptive to agricultural development, we have invested more resources into
grants which will become an increasingly important income source over the next few years. We
were encouraged during the year to secure a grant from the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD) for our work in Ethiopia. Our regular giving scheme Family Friend is attracting
ever more supporters, and the public has also got behind our appeals. We continue to forge new
partnerships, both in Africa and the UK, that enable us to expand our reach and scope so that more
smallholder farmers in Africa have the opportunities to work their way out of the poverty trap.
This year we said farewell and grateful thanks to our chairman Philip Poulsom, who has given
many years of invaluable service to Send a Cow. We welcome in his place Mike Perreau, who
brings wide business expertise to the role. Our thanks go to all farmers, partners, staff, volunteers
and supporters for their continuing dedication to our life-changing work. We can all be proud of
what we have achieved.
Martin Geake
Our vision:
A world without poverty and malnutrition.
Our mission:
To enable poor rural families in Africa to attain food and livelihood
security, by developing strong community groups and sustainable
agricultural systems which integrate crops and livestock.
CONTENTS
Year at a Glance
Highlights
People
Profit
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
Planet
Partnerships
Financial Information
Thanks
8-9
10-11
12-13
Back cover
THE YEAR AT A GLANCE
OUR TARGETS
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
FUTURE PLANS
Assist more than 15,000
families during the year
We gave practical assistance to over
16,500 families
Due to the high number of graduations in
2009/10, and the completion of parts of our
Cameroon programme, we will assist 13,000
families in 2010/11 while laying the
groundwork to take on more new groups
in future years
Expand Send a Cow Lesotho
programme
The public rallied behind our Lesotho
appeal, which in total has raised over
£88,000
We will start work with 12 new groups in
early 2011 with secured funding
Revisit animal welfare
standards
Ongoing review and evaluation of
animal welfare standards in our
programmes. New partnerships with
The Brooke and The Donkey Sanctuary
were established – see page 10/11
We will publish a new Foundation Series
report looking at the importance of animals
for development
Seek new collaborations
Launched new partnerships and
celebrated 10 years of successful
partnership with Heifer Kenya
– see page 10/11
Continue to actively explore partnerships
with other agencies to maximise
effectiveness of programmes
Roll out Information
Management System (IMS)
to improve data collection
and recording
Achieved in two more countries, Uganda
and Kenya, and started in Lesotho
Complete the introduction of the IMS in
Lesotho and roll out into Ethiopia
Diversify income sources
Secured two year grant from
IFAD, established a major donor
programme and built on regular
giving supporter base
Increased focus on in-country grants through
two new fundraising interns in Rwanda and
Ethiopia and further development of high
net worth relationships to ensure stable
income base
Build on our advocacy work
Active member of All-Party
Parliamentary Group on Agriculture
and Food for Development, African
Smallholder Farmers Group, and UK
Food Group, contributing to reports
– see page 2/3
Remain committed to sharing our learning
and will increase profile through investment
in a Research and Development Manager
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 1
HIGHLIGHTS
RESEARCHING THE ANSWERS
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
We continue to ensure our work is both efficient and
effective and always strive to improve and adapt to
changing times. By carrying out regular research we
are consolidating our expertise as key opinion leaders
in the field, and ensuring we are supplying the most
appropriate forms of support to those who really need it.
Our web of influence is spreading as
we continue to establish successful
partnerships with governments,
international policy-making agencies,
NGOs, schools, farms, institutions and
charitable trusts.
• Independent research showed that sustainable organic agriculture
techniques are a key factor in reducing poverty and increase crop yields
by up to 400%.
• The Rwandan Government has implemented
a number of national policies following
our methods. We have established new
partnerships in Ethiopia to ensure improved
animal welfare standards and celebrated 10
years of successful partnership with Heifer
Kenya. We have been awarded a $200,000
grant by the International Fund for Agricultural
Development for a project to improve the lives
of over 4,600 poor people in rural Ethiopia.
• The final evaluation of the Northern Uganda Stockaid Extension
Programme revealed that the scheme had achieved all its intended
objectives and had a highly beneficial impact on women, including
promoting their rights and increasing income and food security.
• An independent review of our work in Rwanda showed that lives had
improved for all farmers in the study and that, in almost all cases,
neighbours and the wider community had also benefited.
• Development Education remains a high priority and
the expansion of the Grow it Global project into
new areas allows for greater interaction with schools.
• We have also grown our regular giving supporter
base through the Family Friend scheme, giving us
a steady income, and have been recognised for
fundraising activities through an award by the
Institute of Fundraising.
SHARING THE MESSAGE
We continue to build our profile
among areas of government, other
NGOs, the media and the public,
maximising potential partnerships
and income streams.
• By increasing participation in advocacy groups
including BOND, the All-Party Parliamentary Group
on Agriculture and Food for Development and the
UK Food Group, we can keep in the loop and feed
into relevant publications. For example, we have
contributed to the African Smallholder Farmers
Group report Approaches that work for viable
livelihoods, which details the need for integrated
policies that scale up smallholder farming.
• We have grown our digital presence with a new
website and gift website, allowing for easier
navigation, improved information and a better user
experience. We have also expanded our social
networking presence, including relaunching our
Facebook page, to interact with existing and
potential supporters.
• Our extensive network of volunteers continues to
play a valuable role in raising awareness and funds
for our work across the UK.
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 2
KEY PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS
Number of households
which began training
NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS WE
WORK WITH IN EACH COUNTRY
2,708
Number of households
who graduated
3,306
Number of groups we are
working with
531
Total number of households
we worked with during year
16,551
Ethiopia
2,899
Lesotho
720
Rwanda
4,560
Uganda
4,969
Kenya
2,068
Cameroon & Zambia
1,335
In Cameroon, Zambia and Kenya we work in
partnership with Heifer International.
WHERE WE WORK
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 3
PEOPLE
People and communities are at the heart of sustainable solutions to poverty in Africa.
Through training in social development values including gender equity, group dynamics and
leadership, groups become better able to support each other and families live in greater harmony.
Send a Cow always works with groups and we take particular care to work with the most vulnerable,
who are often excluded or rejected by their communities: orphaned children, those affected by
HIV/AIDS, disabled people, and women.
Groups work together, overcoming social and economic barriers, to help each other out of poverty.
Each member of the group receives individual assistance, and the whole group grows in confidence
and happiness. Even after the group has graduated from the Send a Cow programme, it remains a
powerful force.
REALISING POTENTIAL
Our social development training broadens farmers’
‘window of vision’ beyond their daily bread to the wider
issues of development. Through our training their
understanding is reinforced
of the importance of working
as a group and of how, by
supporting each other,
families and communities
can build better lives.
The basis of this training is our
‘Cornerstone’ development
values, which set out the key
ways groups should work
together to overcome poverty.
Members of the Ha Setho
Group in Lesotho, for instance,
now say:
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 4
• We now work together rather than individually.
• We learnt that neighbours are valuable – more so even than family
who live far away.
• We are now people who don’t sit under trees gossiping but work hard.
• Now if the Chief calls a community gathering the first people to come
will be Send a Cow farmers.
• The Spirituality cornerstone emphasises forgiveness so we are more
caring and have love for each other.
• We motivate each other – when you go to see a neighbour and their
garden is better than yours then it encourages you to go back and
make yours even better.
Farmers become empowered, gaining freedom of choice and the opportunity
to manage their own development. We encourage people to come up with
their own ideas so individuals, working with their group, can set their own
journey out of poverty.
Working with both men and women on equal terms is paramount to our work.
Many of the groups we work with are all-female, as it is normally women who
are responsible for providing food; but the men in the family are involved as well.
BOOSTING THE
ROLE OF WOMEN
In southern Ethiopia, in the region of
Damot Sore, women’s and girls’ rights
are often abused. In contravention of
the national constitution, traditional
laws discriminate and can leave
women without assets, income or
control. Traditional practices such as
female genital mutilation can cause
infection and even death. Illiteracy is
high, confidence and self esteem are
low, and poverty is widespread.
Send a Cow’s project in the area not
only addresses the issue of food
security by teaching agricultural skills,
but also trains both men and women in
women’s rights and gender issues.
This leads to greater equality and
more joint decision-making in the
home, and significant opposition to
harmful traditional practices in the
wider community.
THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS
Send a Cow’s work in the UK is supported by a national
team of over 150 volunteers who raise both funds and
awareness. Volunteers are a vital part of the Send a
Cow family and provide support to teams such as our
education department through the Grow it Global
campaign, our communications department through
contact with local media, and our fundraising team by
promoting current campaigns.
In 2009/10, volunteers gave at least 13,000 hours of
their time, attended 150 events, and gave 500 talks in
support of our work.
PRINCE CHARLES
We are delighted that His Royal Highness,
The Prince of Wales, has become our President
until November 2014. Prince Charles shares
with us a number of values, including
entrepreneurship
and protection of
the environment,
as well as a long
history of
support
for sustainable
farming.
His involvement
is testament
to increasing
recognition of
the effectiveness
of our work.
GRADUATING WITH HONOUR
Graduation ceremonies
are very special moments
for our farmers: they signify
the move from outside
assistance to self-sufficiency.
All those who graduate from
the Send a Cow programme
will be growing enough food
to feed their families and
many will have set up their
own small businesses.
In 2009/10 113 groups
graduated from our
programmes. This means
there are now 3,306 more
families who are happier,
healthier and full of hope.
Key to the graduation process is our ‘pass-on principle’. Each person we
work with promises to pass on the assistance he or she has received –
such as the offspring of gift livestock – to another family in need.
This means the beneficiary becomes a donor, boosting their dignity.
In addition, research has shown that for every farmer we assist, nine
others will benefit through copying some techniques the original farmer
has learned or by receiving food, milk or seeds from him or her. Therefore,
in total, an average of 10 others are helped, all from our work with just
one individual.
Thus sustainability is built into our programme. Even after graduation,
groups continue to implement Send a Cow’s work – through living by
the Cornerstone values which promote lasting cohesion. Farmers
become resources themselves as they continue to share what they
have learnt with others.
The number of graduations and pass-ons are testament to the success
of our work, and from next year we will be using both as indicators to
measure the effectiveness of our programmes.
GRADUATING… AND KEEPING GOING
“I have increased my crops threefold thanks to Send a
Cow techniques so whenever I feel like eating I eat!”
Mankutloang Monmaheng’s progress since her Send a Cow training in
2007 is stunning. Despite the arid, rocky terrain of her farm in Lesotho,
she has managed to become self-sufficient.
She keeps fish in two dams she has dug, and gets milk and kids from the
goats given to her by Send a Cow. Most impressive of all, though, is her
keyhole garden and double dug beds: bursting with spinach, carrots,
chillies, tomotoes, peppers, beans and leafy vegetables, as well as the
herbs she uses in her work as a herbalist.
Through sales of farm produce, she has diversified into poultry farming
and her house now has electricity. Her goats have so far produced only
male kids so she has not yet passed on livestock, but she is always eager
to pass on her gardening skills to others.
Now her group, Makaneng, is graduating. Mankutloang says:
“I have learned such a lot from Send a Cow, but a child
has to stop suckling from its mother at some point. As
long as I am living, I am prepared to work hard and keep
going the Send a Cow way!”
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 5
PROFIT
Once families have the attitudes and skills they need to overcome problems together, the benefits
to health, relationships and the environment quickly become clear.
Successful farming communities start to emerge. Year-round access to better quality food and
sanitation means families feel healthy and stay healthy. Women play a greater part in decision
making and men take a greater share of the work. Tired soils are restored into flourishing
gardens, more water is conserved, more trees grow and more carbon is captured in the soil.
In time, surplus produce gives families an income to buy
essentials such as paraffin, salt and soap. Housing can be
improved and children can finally go to school. For some
farmers, this new source of income keeps growing.
Many go on to develop small businesses and even to
employ others, helping their community to flourish –
something they had never dreamed possible.
This new breed of smallholder entrepreneurs starts to
profit from restored opportunity in all sorts of ways.
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 6
FROM HUNGER…
TO THREE MEALS A DAY
By regularly eating nutritious fruit, vegetables and milk products, the
families we support are able to work hard to cultivate their land. With a
better diet and less sickness, children are able to grow and develop
healthily, spending more time in school.
This year, independent research into our programme in northern
Uganda revealed that before working with Send a Cow, most
families were struggling on one meal a day – or even less. After
receiving agricultural training and nutrition advice, their food
consumption increased by over 250% and many families moved to
three meals a day comprising more than one food type. Vegetables
now form an important part of these families’ diets, and fish, eggs
and meat are eaten more than twice a week.
Source: End of programme evaluation for Northern Uganda Stockaid
Extension Programme, May 2010
ETHIOPIA’S BIRR MILLIONAIRE
Amsalu Haile, aged 43, lives with his 10 children in Bonke, in the
southern Ethiopian highlands. It is one of the remotest areas in the
country with no access to electricity, piped water, telephones or roads.
In 2002, Amsalu inherited two hectares of land but lacked the
knowledge and resources to successfully farm it. Almost 10 years on,
he has gained the recognition of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister for his
achievements as a successful entrepreneur.
Amsalu has built up a business to be proud of – set in motion by
training he received from Send a Cow in apple tree management,
vegetable production and animal management. Today Amsalu, who
used to make around $1 per day, has made up to $200 a day – the
equivalent of one million birr per year.
He has purchased livestock, built a house, and acquired more land. He
has diversified into vegetable and poultry farming, sheep rearing and
become a landlord.
Although Amsalu is an exceptional case, he feels the key to his
success is maintaining a connection with his Send a Cow group.
He still meets with them weekly and has passed on his skills in apple
tree management to a further 20 members. Amsalu has also become
a social entrepreneur – funding the school fees and associated
materials for a number of orphans.
“Every week we have a discussion time. We discuss how we can
generate income as a group. How we can support the weak, and how
to serve the community. As a group we sold potatoes from a common
plot for 880 birr. Our savings have reached more than 1,000 birr to
which we each contribute two birr per month.
“We have constructed a 500 metre road near the school. We planted
potatoes for weaker farmers outside of the group.
“I worked for my own growth but I
won a national award. I have a plan
to educate other farmers to change
their life situation.”
“My dream is to help
even more people
enjoy a better life.”
Amsalu Haile
FROM SUFFERING…
TO SUCCESSFUL FARM BUSINESSES
With plenty to eat at home,
farmers are able to sell surplus
produce and earn money to
buy essentials for the family.
Some take vegetables, fruits,
eggs, medicinal plants,
seedlings and livestock to
market. Others make stoves
or school uniforms, hire out
oxen for ploughing and bulls
for cross breeding or even set
up chair hire businesses.
Some farmers, like Regina Oyawo from Western Kenya, have
won national recognition for their entrepreneurial spirit. Since
receiving her cow and training in sustainable agriculture in
2004, Regina has worked tirelessly to build up her skills and
diversify her farm. With milk yields growing from 18-30 litres
a day, she now keeps poultry, sells calliandra seeds and
has even helped others to work by employing someone
to cut the grass and feed the animals. Carrots, spinach,
cowpeas, kale, sugarloaf, fruit trees, pawpaw, bananas and
mangoes all contribute to her healthy diet – and her healthy
income of $4,000 a year.
Regina has used her profits to educate her four children and the
four orphans she cares for in good schools. She is also building a
house for her daughters.
Not forgetting the benefits of supporting one another, many
farmers join with neighbours and friends to pool their skills and
assets. Regina has passed on her knowledge to over 1,500
farmers in her group and neighbouring communities. In addition
to training other farmers and holding workshops on her farm,
she has also passed on several calves to other families in need
and encouraged her neighbours to do the same.
Pooling produce to benefit from economies of scale and ensure
maximum return is also widespread. In Lira, Uganda, where one
group set up a dairy cooperative, Send a Cow supported the
establishment of a milk processing plant nearby which
increased sales for the community. Choyisiana Women’s group
in Kenya doubled the value of its milk sales by producing
yoghurt and strawberry-flavoured milk, and Pattu Farming
group set up a tree nursery where they raise seedlings for sale.
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 7
“I think what you’re doing is great. You’re developing communities and making lives
change for the better. I can only hope I make as much change in the world as you do!!”
Helen, comment from Send a Cow’s Cowforce website
PLANET
In our increasingly extreme and unpredictable climate, it is now more important than ever to support
farmers in working in harmony with the environment. Our holistic approach takes in the needs of the
family and the environment, making sure that communities work together to make the most of what
resources they already have. More often that not land is severely over-farmed, so it is essential to teach
famers how to nourish the soil, which will in turn produce crops to feed families and build secure futures.
The families we work with are noticing a great change in the seasons – so much so that many farmers are
unable to predict seasons at all, making it harder still to protect crops and provide enough food all year round.
All the training methods we provide, whether they help farmers rejuvenate their soil, store water, or grow
trees and crops, have climate shocks in mind. Farmers trained by Send a Cow are coping markedly better
than their neighbours when such climate shocks occur, especially in growing and storing food.
THE POWER OF SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE IN UGANDA
In late 2009 Send a Cow UK and Send a Cow Uganda commissioned
an independent research paper into one of our key approaches –
Sustainable Organic Agriculture (SOA) – and how it was helping to
improve families’ livelihoods.
A range of groups was interviewed across three regions, their
farms viewed and soil samples taken, and the results compared
with control groups. The results were encouraging. Following
implementation of sustainable organic techniques we found that:
• All family members are now eating three meals a day, whereas
when previously surveyed in 2002 they barely managed one;
• Crop yields have increased by between 145% and 400%, really
showing the power of SOA techniques;
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 8
• Families are now eating a wide variety of foods including meat,
fruit and vegetables. Thanks in part to the SOA techniques, they
are eating some completely new foodstuffs;
• Families are eating more of their own produce because they are
able to grow more. In turn, this is being sold for an income and
families have subsequently sent children to school, bought more
livestock and land, and substantially improved their homes;
• Now SOA is practised throughout all groups thanks to our
effective peer farmer system.
The outcomes of this research are wholly positive. They point
towards Sustainable Organic Agriculture training being a key
factor in substantially reducing poverty and malnutrition by
improving soils, increasing crop growth and variety, and therefore
improving nutrition. There is a marked increase in household
income as evidenced by the fact that families are now able to pay
for school fees, make improvements on their homes and even
save for the future.
WHEN WATER IS SCARCE
The drought in Kenya and Ethiopia in summer 2009
showed only too well how at risk families are from the
effects of extreme climate. Although it was the worst
drought for 40 or 50 years in some areas, our farmers
are equipped and prepared to deal with the effects.
We help farmers to make the most of every drop that falls
and encourage families to collect waste water for use on
crops. Mulching keeps moisture in the soil and precious
vegetables hydrated, boosted by simple drip irrigation
systems. Farmers collect rainfall so that families can have
a constant supply of water for themselves, their land
and livestock.
NEW FOR 2010 – SPRING CAPPING
In the highlands of Ethiopia, Send a Cow has started
something new… The Shome group have limited access
to fresh clean water. The open spring that runs down the
hillside was contaminated by animals and full of sediment;
people often became sick from drinking the water.
On the many occasions that the spring dried up, the
women of the community were forced to make the
dangerous journey to the nearest clean water source many
miles away. The journey, which sometimes took all day,
meant getting up before dawn and carrying heavy pails
on their backs.
With the help of Send a Cow, a committee was formed
to tackle the problem. Over time, the group put money
together from sales of vegetables and milk and mobilised
the whole community. Once they saved enough money,
they got the spring capped and put in a pump and taps.
Some 250 men, women and children now have access to
regular clean water for a very small fee of five birr (20p)
per month, which pays for the upkeep of the spring.
Almost at once the sickness in the community has dropped.
The committee has even been able to build a shower cubicle
with the extra money so families can wash more easily.
“Before the water was not clean
and it took a good part of the day
to collect it. Having this spring means
that we have more time to be with
our families, to rest and to work on
our land.”
SEEDS OF HOPE
In the UK this year, we launched our Seeds of Hope
campaign with celebrity gardener Carol Klein. We sold
over 600 Bag Garden kits containing Seeds of Hope
(salad leaves), Health (beetroot) and Harmony (beans).
People in the UK have proved really keen to grow their
own using this technique, which is used by our famers
in Africa to grow vegetables close to the home. We also
promoted a schools campaign where children can get
involved in building African Gardens, learn about where
food comes from, and discover how other children live.
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 9
“We share with Send a Cow the belief that positive farming practices can have an
enormous impact on local communities, helping them create a sustainable future.
We remain really excited about our ongoing partnership and have received very
positive feedback from customers.”
Rachel Watson, Riverford Organic
PARTNERSHIPS
The breadth and depth of our partnerships not only demonstrate recognition and endorsement of
Send a Cow’s methods, but also allow us to expand into other areas while concentrating on what we
do best. This ensures we are offering a full complement of support to those who really need it.
Throughout our programmes in Africa, we work with a number of partner organisations who either
have a particular complementary strength, or are able to support us financially. In the UK, we have
partnerships with organisations which help us to increase our profile and diversify our revenue streams.
SCALING UP IN RWANDA
BUILDING OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH SUPPORTERS
Our established relationship with the Rwandan
Government continues to thrive. Having seen
the effectiveness of our work, the Rwanda
Ministry of Agriculture has adopted several key
policies which are being promoted by the
District and Sector administrations throughout
the country. These include keyhole gardens,
which every household is being encouraged
to build; tip taps, which are now seen in
households all over Rwanda; and the ‘one
cow per poor family’ policy, which mirrors the
Send a Cow approach to providing livestock
to poor families on a pass-on basis.
Our regular giving supporter base has continued to grow strongly over the year, in
particular because of strong interest in our Family Friend scheme. For £10 a month,
supporters receive regular updates on a particular
family who is being supported by Send a Cow.
Over the last year the number of Family Friend
supporters has more than doubled and our
approach won the annual Institute of Fundraising
award for best use of face-to-face recruitment.
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 10
The regular giving supporter base not only gives
us a reliable monthly income – so we can be sure
to help more and more families in need – but also
an increase in Gift Aid income.
INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION
Development Education is an integral part of what we do and a key objective of our
work. We are helping to ensure that children understand the important issues of
climate change, food and poverty and that they will be empowered to know that
they can make a difference.
The second year of our Grow it Global project during the spring was a great success as we
expanded into two new farms in Herefordshire. We were therefore able to extend our
reach – a total of 480 teachers and 5,000 pupils were involved this year. The project gives
schoolchildren valuable insights into life in Africa by bringing African farmers to UK farms.
We have continued to grow our bank of materials for schools and have produced
new videos about tip taps, climate change and keyhole gardens that will appeal to
both primary and secondary schoolchildren. Our Cowfiles website of teaching
resources has seen a continued growth in visitors, with teachers loving the variety
and quality of materials available.
In July we launched the ‘Score a goal against hunger’ campaign alongside Self Help Africa,
which saw thousands of children across the UK making and playing with plastic footballs
and raising money for African families. By hooking onto the World Cup we were able to
engage with children in a relevant manner.
WORKING TOGETHER
GROWING IN REPUTATION
Heifer International: In February 2010
we celebrated 10 years of our thriving
partnership with Heifer in Kenya. In that
decade Send a Cow’s projects, based in
Western Kenya, have directly helped over
2,000 households – more than 14,000 people
– and countless more thousands indirectly.
When Send a Cow was awarded a $200,000 (£133,444)
grant by the International Fund for Agricultural
Development (IFAD) for a project to improve the lives of
over 4,600 poor people in rural Ethiopia, it was clear that
we were gaining considerable recognition for our work;
grants of this size are rarely awarded to charities by IFAD.
The celebrations were held in Bumala, with
over 2,000 people joining in. Groups of women
danced and entertained the guests which
included the local MP, Hon. Alfred Ojiambo, and
the Minister for Fisheries, Dr. Paul Otuoma.
The all-day event included singing and
drama, and culminated in the presentation
by Heifer International of a number of
‘Golden Talent’ awards to farmers.
The Brooke and The Donkey Sanctuary: We have been working with The
Donkey Sanctuary and The Brooke in Ethiopia to ensure that the animals we
provide are well looked after.
The main focus of the programme was to raise awareness of the benefits
of improving the living conditions and health of donkeys and horses.
One farmer was so inspired by the training that he even expressed his
concern to his neighbours who were maltreating their animals.
We will soon be developing a fourth report in our Foundation Series which
will look at the value animals have in development.
Lesotho Ministry of Agriculture: The Sustainable Agriculture and Natural
Resource Management Programme (SANReMP) aims to improve household food
security, family nutrition and income in rural southern Lesotho. This year, the
Lesotho Ministry of Agriculture identified that Send a Cow-assisted groups were
far more advanced than others and so invited us to get more involved.
One such group, Tsolepele ke Leseli (’Development is Brightness’), had received
chickens from the Ministry but had encountered problems establishing a pass-on
system. Our training, based around our Cornerstone values, helped provide the
community with the tools to work better together.
Staff who attended a meeting recently reported that members are now very
vocal about the importance of the pass-on process and how they should not
only consider themselves but “have love for each other”.
The money will be used for our project in the Gamo Gofa
Highlands, which has some of the harshest conditions in
the country, including malnutrition, high population, severe
soil erosion and limited access to information and resources.
The project will train poor families in techniques to grow
more food in a sustainable manner. These methods have
been proven across Ethiopia, with some farmers reporting
increased production of up to five fold. The training will
show farmers how existing, natural resources can be better
managed eg by introducing manure to improve soil fertility.
The grant will also be used to set up demonstration sites to
allow farmers to learn techniques, share experiences and
demonstrate their skills to others, who can then go on to
help their communities in turn. This low-cost approach is
highly effective. Some 780 people will be trained, but
another 3,900 will go on to benefit, thanks to this training
being passed on to neighbours.
“Receiving this grant is a great
achievement for Send a Cow and
recognition of the tremendous
progress we have already made in
Ethiopia. By teaching sustainable,
diversified agricultural skills, families
are able to grow enough food to eat
and even a surplus to sell.”
David Bragg,
Senior Programme Co-ordinator for Ethiopia
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 11
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010
Send a Cow Group accounts compiled from the financial accounts
of Send a Cow UK and Send a Cow Uganda
STATEMENT OF
FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
12 Months
to 30 June
2010
12 Months
to 30 June
2009
£’000
£’000
RESERVES OF
As at June
SEND A COW UK ONLY
2010
As at June
2009
£’000
£’000
1,467
2,073
Total Reserves
GROUP INCOMING RESOURCES
Voluntary income
Grants and Trust income
Other income
2,213
1,038
76
2,535
1,258
156
Total Income
3,327
3,949
GROUP OUTGOING RESOURCES
Livestock & agricultural projects
Advocacy, Campaigning & Education
Governance costs
Costs of generating funds
2,774
353
22
861
3,147
383
36
1,077
Total expenditure
4,010
4,643
Income fell in 2009/10 due to the challenging economic environment.
Accordingly, costs of generating funds and charitable spend were
reduced. However there remained a deficit for the year which was
funded from reserves which had been prudently built up in prior
years. The drawdown against reserves was managed and carefully
considered in order to maintain our vibrant programmes in Africa.
Reserves at the year end remained healthy at £1.5m, well in
excess of Send a Cow’s minimum reserves policy.
In 2010/11 income is forecast to have recovered strongly to £4m
due to an active policy of diversifying and building new income
sources. Income and expenditure are forecast to be in balance.
Send a Cow’s income
for the year to June
2010 was £3.3m
STATEMENT FROM TRUSTEES
The summary financial information shows
the incoming resources and outgoing
resources of Send a Cow, the UK charity,
and Send a Cow Uganda, which are being
treated as a group for the annual review.
They are two autonomous organisations
and are audited separately and not as a
group. The figures shown here are
unaudited figures representing the total
Send a Cow group figures. The reserves
figures given are an extract from the
Send a Cow UK accounts. In order to gain
a full understanding of the finances of
Send a Cow UK full audited financial
statements, trustees’ annual report and
auditors’ report should be consulted.
Copies can be obtained from the charity.
Signed on behalf of trustees
Adrian White,
Treasurer,
March 2011
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 12
“So many of the farmers I met were incredibly entrepreneurial. Some farmers have gone
from owning a single cow to setting up thriving dairy cooling/collection businesses.”
Rachel Jones, Farmers Weekly
In the year to June 2010, Send a Cow group
raised £3.3m of income
Grants and Trust income
receivable 31%
Other income including
interest 2%
In the year to June 2010, Send a Cow group
spent £4m, of which £3.1m was spent on
our charitable objectives
Cost of generating
funds 21%
Livestock and
agricultural projects 69%
Governance
costs 1%
Advocacy,
Campaigning
and Education 9%
Voluntary income 67%
SEND A COW ANNUAL REVIEW • 13
THANK YOU
Our work over the past year has transformed thousands of lives and helped people to grow
themselves out of poverty. All of this would not have been possible without the generous support
we have received from individuals, churches, schools, Rotary clubs and other organisations, trusts
and funding institutions.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us and in particular to:
Isle of Man Overseas Aid Committee
Vitol Charitable Foundation
British Humane Association
Miss S Morfield Charitable Trust
Innocent Foundation
Volac International
The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation
Blandford Lake Trust
The Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust
The H B Allen Charitable Trust
The Brian & Patricia Hurst Charitable Trust
The Dulverton Trust
Rita & David Slowe Charitable Trust
The Beatrice Lang Trust
Christadelphian Meal-A-Day Fund
Holy Trinity Church, Stratford upon Avon
The Payne-Gallwey Charitable Trust
Rowan Charitable Trust
Michael Cornish Charitable Trust
The E Alec Colman Charitable Fund Ltd
The Salters' Company Charitable Trust
The Frays Charitable Trust
Open Gate
The Mackintosh Foundation
N.E.W. Trust
The Anson Charitable Trust
The Thornton Trust
The Fulmer Charitable Trust
The Guilbert Charitable Trust
Peter Barker-Mill Memorial Trust
Cumber Family Charitable Trust
WA Smith Charity
The Barnett & Sylvia Shine No2 Charitable Trust
The David Laing Foundation
The Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust
The Souter Charitable Trust
The Ashfield Trust
The SMB Charitable Trust
Leach No.14 Trust
Hodgson Charitable Trust
Constance Green Foundation
The William Arthur Rudd Memorial Trust
The Marr-Munning Trust
The Paragon Trust
Millfield Trust
Trelix Charitable Trust
The Vestris Trust
The Paget Trust
SEND A COW PRESIDENT
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales
SEND A COW UK PATRONS
Archbishop John Sentamu
Baroness Lynda Chalker
David Suchet CBE
Nick Park CBE
Rosemary Conley CBE
Sir John Houghton CBE
SEND A COW UGANDA PATRON
Archbishop (retired) Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo
SEND A COW LESOTHO PATRON
Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso
If you would like to support Send a Cow’s pioneering work,
please contact us on +44 (0)1225 874 222.
Please pass this review on to somebody who may be
interested in reading about us and supporting our work.
Send a Cow, The Old Estate Yard,
Newton St Loe, Bath, BA2 9BR
Telephone: +44 (0)1225 874 222
e-mail: info@sendacow.org.uk
Registered charity number 299717
www.sendacow.org.uk